That was a pretty impressive job of tying up loose ends.
A bunch of storylines came together well on NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 22.
In short, Anna was found, Joelle returned and Nikita was rescued and brought home to his family.
All that, and Hetty scenes too.
That's a major plus, considering how most episodes have meandered since the Densi wedding on NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 17.
It's nice to have a handful of conclusions, even if most couldn't be seen as definitive.
Best of all, some burdens finally got taken off of Callen's shoulders.
Foremost on Callen's mind was Anna, who broke out of jail with her cellmate, undercover Russian spy Kate Miller, on NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 21. She was last seen flying away after Callen let her go.
Related: NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 21 Review: The One That Got Away
Without telling Callen, Anna had decided to infiltrate the organization of Russian spymaster Pavel Volkoff, in hopes to finding out where Callen's father Nikita was being held.
Of course, Hetty knew about Anna's plans. Even though we've barely seen her this season, she's an intermediary in so many secret missions, and this one was no different..
And since she could no longer keep Callen in the dark, she dribbled a little information his way, pointing him in the right direction.
That would be toward Joelle, last seen walking away from her family on NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 3..
She even used the Popeye defense on Callen when explaining that decision: "I yam what I yam."
Joelle was surprisingly Anna's handler in this CIA black op. Imagine the Callen stories those two could tell.
Since she had little manpower support from the CIA, Joelle gladly accepted the OSP help once Hetty had outed her. Especially since the sketchy messages from Anna indicated she was in trouble.
Shouldn't the team have considered that that tiny plane wasn't going to get Anna and Kate to Russia?
No, they would have to land somewhere closer where Russia still held sway, like, say, Cuba.
And once Nikita showed up in surveillance, there was no holding Callen back. There was no sense pondering why Nikita was in Cuba, serving as bait in what was likely a trap.
Did they learn nothing from last season's Mexican fiasco?
My favorite part of the establishing scenes in Havana was the big-ass American land yachts. Too bad the writers couldn't find an excuse for a chase scene featuring those beauties.
Related: Watch NCIS: Los Angeles Online: Season 10 Episode 21
Deeks just doesn't get the concept of inconspicuous, does he? Maybe he was right that such a vehicle would blend right in.
It was good to see Oscar Nunez (The Office) again. He made the most out of the stereotypical morally ambivalent snitch role.
He led the team to Volkoff's lair and stumbled on the vent quite by accident. He even had his own guard by splashing around some of that CIA cash.
Watching Volkoff, you had to wonder how he got to be the Russian spymaster. He thought he had the upper hand forcing Nikita to interrogate Reznikov, but the two of them conspired against him with some sign language they both knew and ultimately escaped.
When you come down to it, Volkoff's bunker was hardly impregnable. Lionel knew where it was and Sam, Deeks and Kensi broke in through the vents. Callen, Anna, Joelle, Nikita and Reznikov all escaped and managed to arm themselves.
It's so hard to get good security nowadays.
For all his scheming, very little went right for Volkoff. Despite having markedly superior firepower, he found himself running willy nilly quite a bit.
It was great when they left him behind. Isn't the trope to take such a character as an asset, leaving a bad taste in the mouths of the heroes?
Volkoff also ended up the only name character dead from his fiendish fail-safe, the chlorine gas.
For someone who has been a pain in the team's side for a number of seasons, he went out with a whimper.
Was that episode all a little predictable: Callen and Joelle getting swooped up by Volkoff's goons? Anna and Joelle being shot, but not really? A wounded Nikita putting the final bullets into Volkoff?
On the home front, was anyone shocked that Rogers found out what was happening despite Nell and Eric's horrible attempts at covering up what the team was doing?
At least he took steps to arrange for a rescue chopper. He's learning why the squad does what they do the way they do it. He's gotten acclimated.
Related: CBS Announces Fate of NCIS: Los Angeles
Still, it was encouraging to see Hetty the most of any episode this season. Here's hoping for a full-time return next season, rather than having her wander in and out such as Ducky does on NCIS.
Nell and Eric were still going back and forth on whether they're going or staying. I'd love to see her stay and him go, but there's no chance of that happening, I'm afraid.
Someone was going to end up dead on this episode. My money was on Anna, since her character no longer serves much purpose.
But no, she just opted for exile, since she's a fugitive. So she'll pop up an episode or two next season.
Just like Joelle. That must be part of the Callen breakup package, to show up often enough to remind fans why they didn't like that character.
Nope, instead it was Nikita who died, after finally getting home to his family one last time, before being laid to rest next to his daughter.
Related: Get CBS All Access via Amazon Channels for Hit Shows, Exclusive Originals & Live TV!
His death wasn't surprising, as he'd lived a long, very hard life. The body can only take so much abuse.
Was Nikita really Callen's father? Maybe, maybe not. But he certainly filled that role in recent years, to allow Callen to stop wondering.
Now he's back in the good graces of Alex and Grace, Callen has a family to visit once again.
SPOILERS: Two more episodes this season, mostly focusing on JAG characters. Let's see if that can happen organically or if it resembles stunt casting.
To catch up before the finale arc, watch NCIS: Los Angeles online.
How do you feel about Nikita's death?
Can't Callen catch a break?
Which character did you expect to die?
Comment below.
